Jim Gavin (Gaelic footballer)

Last updated

Jim Gavin
Séamus Ó Gáibhín
Jim Gavin, Jan 2020 01 (cropped).jpg
Gavin in 2020
Personal details
Born (1971-07-01) 1 July 1971 (age 54)
Dublin, Ireland
Military service
AllegianceFlag of Ireland.svg Ireland
Branch/service Badge of the Irish Defence Forces.svg Irish Defence Forces
Badge of the Irish Air Corps.svg Air Corps
Years of service1990–2011
Rank Ireland-AirForce-OF-3.svg Commandant (OF-3)
CommandsChief Flying Instructor, Flying Training School
Chief of Military Aviation MINURCAT
Battles/warsMINURCAT (Chad)
Jim Gavin
Jim Gavin, Jan 2020 02.jpg
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Position Right half forward
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Occupation
  • COO Irish Aviation Authority
  • Retired Military Officer
Club(s)
YearsClub
 Round Towers Clondalkin
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCountyApps (scores)
1992–2002
 Dublin 25 (0–29)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 3
All-Irelands 1
NFL 1
All Stars 0

Jim Gavin (born 1 July 1971) is a senior Irish public servant, retired Irish Defence Forces officer and former Irish Gaelic football manager and player. Widely regarded as one of the best managers in the sport's history, [1] Gavin managed the senior Dublin county team from 2012 to 2019, becoming the county's most successful manager in terms of major titles won. [2] He served as a senior officer in the Irish Air Corps, including roles in UN peacekeeping, and is currently the senior public servant responsible for Irish aviation safety.

Contents

Gavin was introduced to Gaelic football by his father, a native of County Clare and former chairman of the local club team in Clondalkin. He developed his skills in the local street leagues before winning a record six Cumann na mBunscoil medals as a dual player with Clonburris National School. Gavin attended and represented Moyle Park College, before later enjoying championship successes at underage levels with Round Towers.

Gavin made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Dublin minor team. Gavin joined the Dublin senior team during the 1992–93 league. He went on to play a key role for Dublin over much of the next decade, and won one All-Ireland medal, three Leinster medals and one National Football League medal. Gavin retired from inter-county football following the conclusion of the 2002 championship.

After being involved in team management and coaching in all grades at club level, Gavin guided the Dublin under-21 team to All-Ireland success in 2003, later winning two more All-Ireland titles in this grade in 2010 and 2012. Gavin was appointed manager of the Dublin senior team on 1 October 2012. He went on to lead Dublin through a period of unprecedented provincial and national dominance over the next seven years, winning seventeen major honours. Many of the trophies he has accumulated as manager were won in successive seasons, including four successive National Leagues, seven successive Leinster Championships and a record-breaking five successive All-Ireland Championships, including four league-championship doubles. In addition, Gavin won a further one All-Ireland title, one National League and one O'Byrne Cup as Dublin manager.

On August 30 2025, he wrote to Fianna Fáil parliamentary party members seeking a nomination to run for in the next Irish presidential election. [3] On the same day, Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, confirmed his endorsement of Gavin. [4]

Early life

Gavin was born in the Clonburris area of Clondalkin. His parents are both from west County Clare - his father Jim Senior is originally from Cree and his mother Ann (née Vaughan) is from Moy. [5] His father previously won a county championship with Cooraclare GAA in 1964, and coached neighbourhood teams in the local street leagues at various levels. His grandfathers both fought in the Irish War of Independence. [6]

Jim represented Clonburris Primary School in Gaelic games, winning six out of six Cumann na mBunscoil finals in Croke Park - three in football and three in hurling. [7]

At 18, Gavin joined the Irish Defence Forces as a cadet. He subsequently rose to the senior officer level of Commandant. In this role he served as a part of the senior leadership of the UN's peacekeeping mission in Chad. [8]

GAA

Playing career

Gavin attended Moyle Park College, where he played for the college team. His performances for Round Towers caught the eye of the Dublin selectors, making his senior debut in 1993. [9]

His subsequent military pilot training with the Irish Air Corps ruled him out of any involvement with the under-21 side. [10] [11] With Dublin, Gavin won the 1995 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. [12]

Managerial career

Jim Gavin
Personal information
Irish name Séamus Ó Gábháin
SportGaelic football
Inter-county management
YearsTeam
2012–2019 Dublin
Inter-county titles
CountyLeagueProvinceAll-Ireland
Dublin 5 7 6

In 2009, he coached Dublin to a Leinster Under 21 Football Championship and progressed to the All-Ireland final where they lost to Cork. He repeated the Leinster victory in 2010, going one better than the previous year by winning the All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship final. His selectors were Declan Darcy, Shane O'Hanlon and Jim Brogan. [13]

Gavin was ratified as senior football manager on 1 October 2012, replacing Pat Gilroy and signing a three-year contract (2013–2015). [14] Michael Deegan, David Byrne and Declan D'Arcy were his selectors for 2013. On 28 April 2013, Dublin won the first of four consecutive National Football League titles a 0–18 to 0–17 win against Tyrone at Croke Park. [15] Then he complained that things were "too drawn out". [16] He led Dublin to the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, with the team defeating Kerry in the semi-final on a scoreline of 3–18 to 3–11. [17] Dublin won the final on 22 September 2013, beating Mayo by 2–12 to 1–14. [18] [19] In December 2013, Gavin was named the 2013 Philips Sports Manager of the Year. [20]

Dublin could not defend that title though, Donegal comprehensively defeating Gavin's team by a scoreline of 3–14 (23) 0–17 (17), in an All-Ireland SFC semi-final which went into the record books as Gavin's only championship defeat as Dublin senior manager.

Dublin again beat Kerry, this time by 0–12 to 0–9, in the 2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, to win a second All-Ireland SFC title in three years. The following year, in September 2016, Mayo held Dublin to a 2–9 to 0–15 draw in the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, but prevailed by a scoreline of 1–15 to 1–14 in the replay in October, winning back-to-back All-Ireland SFC titles, and a third title in four years. In September 2017, he led Dublin to a third consecutive All-Ireland SFC title, his team again defeating Mayo by a scoreline of 1–17 to 1–16. This was Gavin's fourth All-Ireland SFc title as the Dublin manager. In 2018, he led Dublin to a fourth consecutive All-Ireland SFC title, Dublin defeating Tyrone by a scoreline of 2–17 to 1–14. This was Gavin's fifth All-Ireland SFC title as Dublin manager. In 2019, he led Dublin to an unprecedented fifth consecutive All-Ireland SFC title, Dublin defeating Kerry by a scoreline of 1–18 to 0–15 in the replay, after a drawn game. This was Gavin's sixth and last All-Ireland SFC title as Dublin manager.

Under Gavin's management, the Dublin senior football team established a new record for most National League and Championship games unbeaten. When defeating Roscommon by a scoreline of 2–29 to 0–14 in a March 2017 National League game at Croke Park, Dublin set a new record of playing 35 games in league and championship without defeat. [21] They extended this unbeaten run to 36 games a week later with a win away to Monaghan in the National League. [22] That 36-game unbeaten run came to an end on 10 April 2017 in the National League Final, which Dublin lost lost by a single point (0–20 to 1–16) to Kerry, the previous holder of that record, which had stood for 84 years. [23]

Gavin announced his decision to end his time as manager on 30 November 2019. [24] He informed his players at Innisfails in Balgriffin on a Saturday evening that month. [25] Assessment of Gavin's term as Dublin manager has seen him described as one of the greatest managers in Gaelic football history. [1]

Rules Committee

He is chairman of the Football Review Committee established by the GAA to reform the rules of football. In the aftermath of the 2025 All-Ireland Championship, these changes were hailed for improving the sport as a spectacle and Gavin was praised for his skill in both developing the proposals and winning support from previously reluctant provincial and county structures. [26] [27]

Military career

In 1990 at the age of 18, Gavin joined the Irish Defence Forces as an Air Corps Cadet and spent 18 months in the Cadet School completing an infantry officers course prior to being posted to the Air Corps and undertaking pilot training. Gavin served in the Air Corps for 20 years, rising to Chief Flying Instructor. Gavin spent time as Chief Pilot in the Ministerial Air Transport Squadron. Gavin served as Chief of Military Aviation with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), overseeing air assets and coordinating international support. Gavin rose the rank of Commandant and retired from the Defence Forces in 2011. [28] Gavin frequently cites his military training and experience as being formative in his success in Gaelic football management. [29]

Public service career

Gavin is a qualified commercial pilot, [30] and following the conclusion of his military career and after his retirement as Dublin manager, he started working for the Irish Aviation Authority as a director of people and operations, rising to the level of Chief Operations Officer, making him the person with operational responsibility for air safety in Ireland. [31] [32] [33]

In 2022, Gavin was appointed to chair a citizen's assembly on a directly elected mayor for Dublin. The assembly outlined a case in favour of reforms to local government in Dublin which were required, it argued, to significantly improve services in the city and county of Dublin. [32] [34]

Since 2023 Gavin has served as the chairperson of the North-East Inner City Taskforce, a body which brings together public and community organisations to plan and implement service and facilities developments in Ireland's most disadvantaged community. [35] [36]

2025 presidential campaign

Speculation and announcement

On 25 August 2025 the Irish Independent reported that members of Fianna Fáil had approached Gavin to consider standing as a candidate in the 2025 Irish presidential election. [37] On August 30 he wrote to parliamentary party members formally seeking their nomination for candidacy. [38] On the same day, Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, confirmed his endorsement of Gavin. [39]

Personal life

Gavin is married to Jennifer; the couple live in Dublin with their two children a son and a daughter. [40]

In 2019, Gavin received an honorary doctorate from Dublin City University, [41] and in 2020 he was made a Freeman of the City of Dublin. [40]

Career statistics

Manager

As of match played 1 October 2016.
TeamFromTo O'Byrne Cup National League Leinster All-Ireland Total
GWDLGWDLGWDLGWDLGWDLWin %
Dublin 1 October 201230 December 2019171205443266151500131021886971283%

Honours

Military

Civilian

Player

Dublin

Manager

Dublin
Individual

References

  1. 1 2 Various sources;
    • "Paddy Cullen hails Dubs 'enigma' Jim Gavin". Irish Examiner. 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
    • O'Kane, Karl (4 October 2023). "Karl O'Kane: Could the best managers do it with outsider counties?". Buzz.ie. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
    • "Darragh Ó Sé: Even the best managers need the right players to succeed". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
    • "PJ Cunningham: Gavin stands tallest in pantheon of greatest managers | The Irish World". www.theirishworld.com. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
    • "O'Sé: Five In A Row Just A Product Of Jim Gavin's Greatest Achievement". 3 December 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
    • O'Callaghan, Gavin (30 November 2019). "LIVE: Tributes flow in for Jim Gavin has iconic boss calls steps down as manager". Dublin Live. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Keane, Paul (1 October 2012). "Dublin GAA chiefs appoint Jim Gavin as new football boss". The 42. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Lehane, Mícheál (30 August 2025). "Gavin writes to FF members seeking presidential candidacy". RTÉ News . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  4. ↑ Roche, Barry (30 August 2025). "'He has the right values': Taoiseach confirms endorsement of Jim Gavin for president". The Irish Times . Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Son of Clare parents, Jim Gavin steps down as Dublin manager". Clare Echo. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "A Quick 18 with Jim Gavin: His favourite course, sporting hero, and what he'd change about Gaelic Games". independent. 6 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "All Ireland Countdown Day 5: Jim Gavin profiled". Round Towers.ie. 15 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Jim Gavin - the making of the man". GAA. 28 August 2019. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Methodical, meticulous, precise - Jim Gavin's life in the Air Corps prepared him for management". Irish Times. 21 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Jim Gavin – Dublin's master of cool". Irish Independent. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  11. ↑ Crowe, Dermot (8 June 2014). "Jim Gavin: He'd work his socks off for the team". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Dublin: Profile". Hogan Stand. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010.
  13. ↑ "Darcy named Dublin under 21 selector". Hogan Stand. 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  14. ↑ "Jim Gavin is appointed Dublin football manager". RTÉ News. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Dublin 0-18 Tyrone 0-17". RTÉ Sport. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "Gavin: break is too long". Hogan Stand. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "As it happened: Dublin beat Kerry". RTÉ Sport. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  18. ↑ "Bernard Brogan's brace seals Sam for Dubs but it's agony for Mayo yet again in Corker". Irish Mirror. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  19. ↑ "Dublin win 2013 All-Ireland football final". The Score. 23 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "'Humbled' Gavin caps a year to remember". Irish Independent. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  21. ↑ "Dublin juggernaut rolls on with 21-point pasting of Roscommon to create history in style". The 42. 25 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  22. ↑ "Jack McCaffrey's stoppage-time goal sends Dublin past brave Monaghan and into league final". The 42. 2 April 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  23. ↑ "David Moran phenomenal as Kerry sack the Dublin empire to lift league crown". The 42. 9 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  24. ↑ "Jim Gavin steps down as Dublin manager". The 42. 1 December 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  25. ↑ "Dublin legend's unique build-up to Kerry classic". Irish Independent. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  26. ↑ Stafford, Mikey (22 January 2025). "FRC changes: Proposed new look for Gaelic football". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  27. ↑ "Confirmed: Football's new rules leave hurling in the shade when it comes to discipline". Irish Independent. 31 July 2025. Archived from the original on 31 July 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  28. ↑ Clerkin, Malachy. "Jim Gavin: the Dublin footballer manager and pilot on living the high life". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  29. ↑ Foley, Cliona (16 September 2013). "Jim Gavin factfile". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  30. ↑ Clerkin, Malachy. "Jim Gavin: the Dublin footballer manager and pilot on living the high life". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  31. ↑ "Jim Gavin - the making of the man". GAA. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  32. 1 2 Beesley, Arthur. "Jim Gavin and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin to chair new citizens' assemblies". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  33. ↑ "Management Team". Irish Aviation Authority. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  34. ↑ cathaloregan (27 January 2023). "Final Report of the Dublin Citizens' Assembly launched". Citizens' Assembly. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  35. ↑ "Dublin's North East Inner City Programme Implementation Board". NEIC. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  36. ↑ "Instagram" . Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  37. ↑ "Former Dublin GAA boss Jim Gavin linked with Fianna Fáil bid for presidency". Irish Independent. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  38. ↑ Lehane, Mícheál (30 August 2025). "Gavin writes to FF members seeking presidential candidacy". RTÉ News . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  39. ↑ Roche, Barry (30 August 2025). "'He has the right values': Taoiseach confirms endorsement of Jim Gavin for president". The Irish Times . Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  40. 1 2 O'Loughlin, Mikie (29 April 2022). "Away from Dublin GAA Jim Gavin is married to wife Jennifer and they have 2 kids". RSVP Live. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  41. ↑ "Dr Jim: Gavin pays tribute to his parents who told him to dream big as he is honoured at DCU". Irish Independent. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  42. ↑ Cox, James (23 September 2019). "Jim Gavin will be awarded Freedom of Dublin City". buzz.ie. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
Achievements
Preceded by All-Ireland SFC
winning manager
2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by All-Ireland SFC
winning manager
2015–2019 		Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by
 Dublin Under-21 Football Manager
2007–2012		Succeeded by
Preceded by Dublin Senior Football Manager
2012–2019		Succeeded by
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